This week we will continue our first Creative Curriculum unit “The Beginning of the Year”. Our biggest topic this week is, when do things happen at school? The focus is on routine and how we can be prepared by anticipating what will come next. This week we have picture day on Thursday, September 29. Here are our detailed plans for the week.
Monday
Today we will be practicing sorting objects. The afternoon class will also review shapes by completing a worksheet. Worksheets in our class are always part of a hands on lesson and are incorporated to prepare the kids for all of the pencil/paper tasks they will be doing in Kindergarten next year. Our story in the morning is Puppies, Puppies, Puppies! And in the afternoon we will read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day.
Tuesday
? of the day – Do you know how this is used? (a picture of a clock)
Large Group – discuss how we use a clock to tell us what time it is and to keep us on schedule, we will also discuss what time of day you do different things
Small Group – Where's the bean bag? In this activity we will explore and describe spatial relationships.
Story – Jalapeno Bagels
Wednesday
? of the day – What do we do after snack?
Large group – we will review the classroom schedule and talk about what is the same/different each day.
During choice time we will play a stepping stone game. This game will further our knowledge of spatial relationships.
Small Group – Second Step lesson with the Social Worker, Meg Will. This weeks lesson is called self-talk. The objective of this lesson is for the children to be able to demonstrate self talk strategies while playing a game.
Story – You Will Be My Friend
Thursday
Picture Day
? of the day – What do we do when we first get to school?
Large Group – Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be?
Small Group A.M. - The Long and Short of It – talking about the concept of length comparing and measuring length
Small Group P.M. - letter D activity
Story – Papi, How Many Stars are in the Sky?
Friday
Early Dismissal – today only the three year old who comes on Friday morning will have school. There is no school for the afternoon students today.

This week we are going to be talking a lot about rules. We will also discuss the importance of following rules at school. This week in the art center we will be doing easel painting for the first time. I am sure the kids will be very excited to bring home their very own masterpieces. In the sensory area we will do play dough. On Wednesday our OT Shelly Strong will do a cutting center again this week. Here are our specific plans:
Monday
Today we will be talking about and exploring apples. We will look at the seeds and we will be making apple prints of the star that is inside each apple. Our story today is Autumn is for Apples.
Tuesday
? of the day – Would you like to paint today?
Large Group – writing the rules
Small Group A.M. - making modeling clay
Small Group P.M. - making modeling clay
Story – A World of Families
Wednesday
? of the day – What song should we sing today?
Large group – the name game
Small Group – Second Step lesson with the Social Worker, Meg Will. This weeks lesson is about focusing our attention and that we can practice to be better at focusing our attention at school.
Story – Charlie Anderson
Thursday
? of the day – How many fingers are on your hand?
Large Group – Echo Clapping
Small Group A.M. - Can you find it?
Small Group P.M. - letter C activity
Story – Peeny Butter Fudge
Friday
Today we will play a shape game. We will also make shape necklaces and read Shapes for Lunch.

This week we will talk about feelings and in particular how we can appropriately handle our feeling at school. During choice time the children will each be drawing a picture about our feeling question of the day, then they will dictate a sentence or two about what they drew to a teacher. These feelings journals will come home on Thursday and they will have extra pages. We encourage you to continue this activity at home, it is an excellent pre-writing skill as well as a great way for kids to express themselves. They don't have to “write” about feelings it can be about anything they want. We will be working on cutting in the art center. Shelly Strong, our Occupational Therapist will be doing a cutting group on Wednesday. Below are some specific activities for the week, please note that the small group activities are the same on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is because each child will only do 1 small group activity per day so what they don't do on Tuesday, they will do on Thursday.
Monday
Today we will talk about feelings and look at photos of children and talk about what they might be feeling. We will also use our feelings stampers and we will color an apple book. Please ask your child to “read” the apple book to you. Today's story is Feelings.
Tuesday
? of the day – Have you ever been sad?
Large Group – feelings journals
Small Group A.M. - sorting
Small Group P.M. - letter B activity and “b”utton sorting
Story – Wemberly Worried
Wednesday
? of the day – Have you ever been scared?
Large group – feelings journals
Small Group – Second Step lesson with the Social Worker, Meg Will. This weeks lesson is about listening and how following listening rules helps everyone learn. We will use puppets and roll playing during this lesson and throughout the week to reinforce this idea.
Story – The Kissing Hand
Thursday
? of the day – What makes you happy?
Large Group – feelings journals
Small Group A.M. - sorting
Small Group P.M. - letter B activity and “b”utton sorting
Story – Smudge's Grumpy Day
Today we will be attending a band concert in the afternoon.
Friday
Today we will be doing several number and counting activities. Our story will be I Like Myself!